Saltwater Aquarium Healing Solution: Live Stone for Marine Fish Reservoirs - BRStv Aquarium Q&A
Curing Live Rock: A Comprehensive Guide
Curing live rock is an essential step in setting up a new reef tank. This process involves preparing the live rock to host a healthy and balanced ecosystem, free from potential pests and pollutants. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.
1. Set up the curing bin
Begin by placing your live rock in a suitable container filled with saltwater. Aquariums, rubbermaid brute trash cans, or horse troughs make great choices for this purpose. Keep the water parameters stable during the curing process.
2. Add a food source
Provide a small, consistent food source to support bacterial growth. A pinch of fish food or a small amount of ammonia can work well for this purpose.
3. Control light exposure
Avoid intense lighting initially to prevent algae overgrowth. Some light can help promote natural microbial and algal growth, but it's best to maintain a complete blackout during the curing process.
4. Allow time for natural cycling
Let the live rock undergo the natural cycling process, typically for 6 to 8 weeks, to allow its microfauna and flora colony to establish and become biologically stable.
5. Monitor water chemistry
Regularly test the water chemistry, particularly ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, to confirm the cycling progress. Initially, these parameters will spike quite high and then plateau. Once they stop rising and hit this plateau, the rock is considered cured.
Using live rock helps speed up the nitrogen cycle, as it brings in beneficial bacteria already colonizing the rock. Adding a little food supports these bacteria naturally instead of chemical additives. Limiting strong light initially can avoid excessive algae growth while beneficial bacteria get established.
6. Testing and Confirmation
Performing a 100% water change and testing again can confirm that the rock is cured, as the phosphate and nitrate should be zero after the water change.
7. Using Bacterial Additives
Adding appropriate bacterial additives specifically designed for curing can boost the specific strains of bacteria that are ideal for breaking down organic debris. Dr. Tim's Waste Away and Brightwell's MicroBacter Clean are examples of such products.
8. Other Types of Live Rock
Live rock can be grouped into four categories: wet live rock, dry rock from the ocean or a previous tank, mined dry rock, and artificial man-made dry rock. Wet live rock is rare and expensive, and hobbyists often choose not to cure it to retain the beneficial bacteria, small organisms, and algae. Mined dry rock, such as Marco Rocks Reef Saver, is the most common rock used today and does not need a prolonged natural cure time.
9. Additional Tips
Soaking a bag of activated carbon can help cut down on foul odors that result from organic material being broken down by bacteria. Maintaining the water temperature around 78 degrees or near the desired tank temperature can help bacteria reproduce and populate the curing bin faster, reducing the total time required for curing.
Curing wet live rock with light and food source additions is similar to running a reef tank in a bucket, and may not effectively remove potential pests and pollutants. Artificial man-made dry rock, such as Real Reef, should be soaked in saltwater for a prolonged period of time to remove anything leftover from the manufacturing process. However, Real Reef Rock is allowed to cure in freshwater for a minimum of 12 weeks before being transferred into a bin of saltwater for another 12-16 weeks before packaging, so it does not require additional curing before use.
By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to setting up a healthy reef tank ecosystem without harsh chemical treatments or quick fixes. Happy curing!
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